As David French noted a few days ago, Professor Kenneth Howell, a well-respected academic with 2 master’s degrees, 2 Ph.D.s and many years of ranking as one of the best professors on campus, was recently fired from his job as an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois for daring to teach students the Catholic Church’s position on homosexual behavior—in a class called “Introduction to Catholicism”.

We sent the University a letter last Monday warning them that this action violated Professor Howell’s First Amendment rights. Initially, it confirmed that Professor Howell was fired due to his e-mail to students explaining the difference between utilitarianism and natural moral theory (which the Catholic Church adheres to) in examining the issue of homosexual behavior, which ran afoul of university policy on “inclusivity.” Later this week, University representatives claimed that Professor Howell had not in fact been fired, that “no decisions” were made as to the class he is scheduled to teach this fall (even though Professor Howell was told specifically by the department chair that someone else would be teaching his class), and that it was convening a committee of the Faculty Senate to examine whether the principles of academic freedom were violated—in late August. This was, as President Michael Hogan stated, because the University “want[s] to be able to reassure ourselves there was no infringement on academic freedom here.” Talk about starting the “review” from a predetermined conclusion!

Late Thursday, we received a letter from the University stating that they are “suspending” the decision of his department chair pending review by the committee. While this is a nice step, this does not resolve the issue. It is meaningless for Professor Howell to retain his status as an adjunct professor without being able to teach any classes, and the committee’s review of the situation does not change the fact that Professor Howell was relieved of his previously scheduled teaching responsibilities because his instruction to students was deemed not to meet standards of “inclusivity.” Save for that email, Professor Howell would still be teaching Introduction to Catholicism in the approaching semester. That is a violation of his constitutional rights, and we have indicated as much to the University in our response letter, sent today.

We have also seen mediareports indicating that the University intends to examine the longstanding agreement between the University and the Newman Foundation to provide an instructor to teach students about Catholicism and Catholic thought in their Religious Studies department. (Certainly a relevant topic, with over one billion Catholics in the world). Somereports indicate that the Newman Foundation has total control over who the instructor will be, but this is false according to the agreement between the University and the Foundation. The agreement specifically states that the University retains control over the selection of the instructor, who is required to meet all University standards and requirements for any adjunct:

Individuals will be proposed for adjunct faculty status by the Newman Foundation, and shall hold appropriate scholarly credentials and shall be reviewed and approved for adjunct status according to the standard procedures for such positions. The faculty members and courses shall be subject to the same review and supervision by the Program for the Study of Religion as apply to all courses and members of the Program’s faculty. In turn, the adjunct faculty affiliated with the Newman Foundation shall have the rights and privileges accorded all faculty holding the same positions.

Regardless, this is nothing but a huge distraction. This agreement is in no way part of the reason why Professor Howell was fired, and moreover, there is nothing wrong with it, as the University retains control over the selection of who is teaching their students.

In the meantime, UI students are organizing an effort to “Save Dr. Ken.” They’ve started a Facebook group, are posting flyers around campus and are organizing a boycott of Religious Studies courses. But as a sad indicator of exactly what happens when universities like the University of Illinois teach students by example that censorship is acceptable and that true discourse on campus must come second to anyone taking “offense,” we have also received reports that some flyers are being torn down. We’re hoping that the University takes quick action to restore Professor Howell’s rights, and in so doing, teaches their students what the First Amendment really means.

'the Catholic Church’s position on homosexual behavior—in a class called “Introduction to Catholicism”.'

It is not the position of the Catholic church that dogs can give informed consent to sex with humans. There's no need to go beyond that bit of the professor's teaching to find him incompetent. His bilge would never make the cut at Notre Dame. Why should the U of IL tolerate it?

http://www.facebook.com/throbertmcgee Rob McGee

My reading of this case (based on the two emails) is that it's really about a liberal Catholic student whose ego was bruised by a conservative Catholic professor — and that the student only brought up the “anti-gay language” issue as a convenient pretext for airing his REAL beef, which is that, as a liberal Catholic, he's not getting the respect he feels entitled to from the Church hierarchy. (The student gives his game away when he acknowledges that both he and his co-complainant were “raised Catholic,” and then gripes about how dogmatic Prof. Howell had been during the entire course. NB: The grievance is not that Howell had been consistently anti-homosexual, but that he'd been consistently “dogmatic.”)

So if anything, the University should be most embarrassed not for having tread on Prof. Howell's speech rights, but for having been lured into taking sides in what was actually a Catholic-vs.-Catholic dispute.

Penswoods

Sorry, but without knowing ALL the facts and based on what I've read……I can see the University's point. And I am VERY VERY CATHOLIC. However, we ALL “know” as Catholics what “intro do Catholicism” means. We ALL know, as catholics educated in Catholic Colleges and universities that we are NOT free to teach the same things in the same ways on public campuses as catholic campuses. We ALL KNOW this. This prof. “pushed” the envelope. Many do. He just “pushed” a little too far and got stopped. Now it seems like WHINING again and I get very TIRED as an educated Catholic Female hearing the MALE Catholics WHINE about EVERYBODY from universities, to journalists, etc. being “bullied”….ESPECIALLY when “bullas” began in Rome. And it ALWAYS seems to have to do WITH SEX and or VARIATIONS of it !!!! Will you men PLEEEEEZE GET a life OUTSIDE the OBSESSION of SEX !!!!!! This was NEVER part of my education as a CATHOLIC. STOP WHINING, PLEASE !!!! Besides, he was an adjunct !!!!!! They come and go and usually KNOW better than to push envelopes UNTIL they have tenure. This really is a waste of Catholic readership time which could have better been put to use on further study of Scripture !

Penswoods

My comment will probably be “censored” because it disagrees with the author's viewpoint. …. just sayin………….

Credo111

Bob wrote: “It is not the position of the Catholic church that dogs can give informed consent to sex with humans.”

Please read Dr. Howell's e-mail again. Nowhere in his e-mail does he claim that this is the Church's position. You've entirely misunderstood his argument.

RCC_Soldaten

It is better to keep one's mouth closed and people think that you might be stupid, than to open it and remove all doubt.

Dagny Taggart

You are so ignorant of the facts of this situation. The man was teaching an Intro to Catholicism class, and he was fired for Catholic beliefs not being 'inclusive' enough to meet university standards. From what I understand, Islamic and Judaic beliefs are similar on the subject of homosexuality, so if there are courses on those religions at UI, Which means that Catholicism was singled out by the university. It's about discrimination, my dear, not about sex. Get that chip off your shoulder.

RCC_Soldaten

He was asked a question! Then he answered it. What part of this do you have a problem. If you are 'very, very Catholic' as you stated, then you understand the Church's stance on homosexuality. Peace be with you.